'Rock' and roll

After arriving at the hotel we settled ourselves in and then wandered out into San Francisco, mainly to get some food. The transport systems here are great, especially the 'F' route trams. A few years ago someone had the brilliant idea of buying up old retired trams from around the US, refurbishing and restoring them and running them on the old docklands route into the city. As a result you have this collection of beautiful old trams, all a bit different to each other and different ages taking people for only $2 or $0.75 for a child anywhere on the route.

We took the 'F' tram down to Fisherman's Wharf and had a wander. This is now the main visitor area for the city. Very vibrant, lots going on and lots to see. We visited the booking office for our prepaid Alcatraz trip to find out times etc for tomorrow and then went for food. We ate at a Rainforest Cafe/Restaurant. Great fun, especially for the young. Big anamatronic animals around the place as well as huge fishtanks with tropical seawater fish swimming about. Food fantastic and so cheap (compared to Australia). We ate well and then walked back to the hotel (Calum scooted) arriving at about 8.00pm. We got changed for bed and were all asleep by 8.30pm.

Tuesday 16th August: up early and off to Fisherman's Wharf to get our Alcatraz tickets and our 48 hour tickets for the 'Hop On - Hop Off' tour bus. We are told to be at pier 33 for 12.40 for our ferry to 'The Rock'.

Breakfast - time to kill so priority is breakfast, we found an old style American Diner complete with Rock and Roll playing on the Jukebox. They do breakfast so in we go. Calum opts for the easy sausages and toast, Jen goes for a Breakfast toasted Sandwich and Les goes for the 'All American' pancakes and maple syrup with bacon on the side! Fabulous.

Still time to kill so we go into 'Ripley's Believe it or not' San Francisco. Great fun and takes a couple of hours. Then over to pier 33 and onto the ferry to Alcatraz


If you've never been before, it's surprising how near to San Francisco city the island is and how big it is. From the dock to the cellblock is like climbing 13 stories! You get a real impression of how alarming it must have been for prisoners being taken there in chains and having to walk up the steep climb to the cells and then be processed:


Issued uniform and a number which is how they would then be referred, Showered:


And then to the cells with all the other prisoners shouting and yelling to them:


We do the audio tour. This is one of San Francisco's top attractions. You are given a set of headphones and this has a commentary by former guards and prisoners explaining the history of the prison and giving a feel of what it was like there whilst directing you around and telling about some of the legends and stories. The whole thing is truly fascinating. Brilliant. You are free to roam until the last ferry at 6.10pm.

We catch the 4.30 ferry to the mainland having taken shedloads of photographs!

Back on the mainland and we headed to pier 39. This is where there are shops, attractions, live outdoor shows and restaurants. The spent some time watching a show and picking up some souvenirs then we ate at the Wipeout Cafe. Its been a warm day but there has been a mist and fog all day meaning that as the evening draws in its cooling quite quickly. This is obvious by this picture of the Golden Gate Bridge:


Then back to the hotel for about 8.00pm. We settled in for the night with a movie - X-Men first class.

Then to bed after another busy day!

More to follow:


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